Johnny Cash’s Great-Niece Identified as Murder Victim

“We ask for your prayers for the Cash family at this time,” says Tommy Cash.

Bob Paxman | Published: Mar 20, 2014

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The victim found murdered in an incident in Tennessee’s Putnam County has been identified as Courtney Cash, the great-niece of country legend Johnny Cash. She was found dead on Wednesday morning, March 19. The man who lived with her, whose name has not been released, was injured in the incident and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Tommy Cash, the brother of Johnny Cash and the grandfather of Courtney, issued a statement on the tragic event: “We ask for your prayers for the Cash family at this time. Courtney and her boyfriend are beloved members of my family and like you we have a lot of questions and emotions that we are beginning to sort through today. We ask you to respect our privacy and appreciate all the support that the public and media has always offered me and my family, as we handle the loss of our grand-daughter. We are completely heartbroken.”

Investigators believe that an altercation may have occurred between Wayne Gary Masciaella, who was taken into custody in Cookeville, Tenn., Courtney and Courtney’s boyfriend. An autopsy may reveal more about the incident.

We at Country Weekly send our condolences to the Cash family during this time.